Richardson to announce candidacy

Richardson to announce candidacy

By Bruce Smith, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who has been campaigning for weeks for the nation's highest office, plans to announce Monday in Los Angeles that he is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

Richardson, who was born in California and lived there briefly, will make his announcement at the Los Angeles Press Club. Aides to the governor said the backdrop will be several Hispanic leaders, underscoring Richardson's Hispanic heritage and the importance of California's Feb. 5 primary.

"A candidate with a message of hope, candor and accomplishment."

From The New York Times:

Of all the resumes in the Democratic field of presidential hopefuls, Mr. Richardson’s stands out: a governor; a former secretary of energy; a former ambassador to the United Nations; a former member of Congress. A decade ago, he negotiated hostage releases with Saddam Hussein. This month, he returned from a mission – blessed by the Bush administration – to North Korea.
Ideologically, he presents a mixture different from any other Democrat in the field. He is a supporter of gun rights. He has been critical of his party for reflexively looking to tax increases to pay for social programs. Yet on Iraq, he is as outspoken as any of his rivals in his opposition to the war, and he advocates a complete withdrawal of all troops by the end of the year.
“My objective right now is to introduce myself to the American people – and for them to see that I’m a serious candidate with substance.”
His biggest challenge, he says, is to stand out in the field of eight candidates. And to make his biography known. He is the first Democrat to run television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, a strategy even he describes as “a gamble.”
“You run the risk that voters, by the time they start voting, they forget the ads. That’s a risk, but my name recognition needs to improve,” Mr. Richardson says. “The ads are funny, they’re not traditional ads.
That’s the kind of candidate that I need to be – a candidate with a message of hope, candor and accomplishment.”

Vote for Gov. Richardson in MSNBC's post-debate poll !!!

Vote for Governor Richardson in MSNBC's post-debate poll:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18335732/



For additional coverage visit: www.politics.msnbc.com

The debate is supposed to be available, in its entirety on the MSNBC politics site beginning Friday.

FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE --- TODAY ON MSNBC!!!

I've been trying to add some updates here for the past two days and, once again, faithful Blogger.com was not cooperating. *sigh* Somedays I think I'm going to lose what's left of my mind.... So, apologies for not getting this on here sooner:

FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

The debate will be broadcast live, from South Carolina, on MSNBC at 5:00 pm MST. MSNBC has day long political coverage - with spotlight on the debate - featuring a debate preview at 4:00.

For those who are unable to watch it live, check your schedules, as it may re-air at another time.

Press articles, and other coverage of the debate, will follow here (providing blogger.com gods look upon me with favor) on Colorado for Richardson over the next several days.

I'll also try to upload some YouTube clips of the debate for those who may not get to watch it.

Be sure to also visit: www.RichardsonBringsHope.com, which will feature debate coverage as well --- and the official Richardson for President site: www.RichardsonforPresident.com

Thanks so much for your support!!

RICHARDSON FOR AMERICA ~ I BELIEVE!

Richardson Leads Race To TV Ads

The Washington Post

Friday, April 20, 2007; Page A06

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will take to the airwaves in Iowa and New Hampshire next week, making him the first Democratic candidate to run television ads in the states that will lead off the presidential caucus and primary calendar.
"This is an effective way to reinforce the governor's extraordinary record," Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said of the commercials. "But the ads are just part of the strategy -- the biggest piece is campaigning town to town, meeting people and earning votes in person."
The 30- and 60-second spots were produced by Murphy Putnam Media and are meant to introduce Richardson to voters in two of the most critical states in the nomination fight. The shorter ad details Richardson's rationale for running and outlines his plans for moving forward in Iraq; the 60-second spot highlights his record as governor.

Richardson Wins Democratic Nomination in Presidential March Madness

We did it!!!

Thanks to your enthusiasm and support, Governor Richardson has won the final round of voting (for the Democratic nomination) in the Presidential March Madness poll!!!
Governor Richardson previously defeated Al Gore and Hillary Clinton and - in the final round - defeated Barack Obama by 20%!!!

** I'd especially like to thank my fellow Coloradans -- your votes truly made the difference! I was told that Governor Richardson received more votes from Colorado than any other state! Way to go, team! Many thanks! **

Thank you for voting and for supporting Governor Bill Richardson!!!

Richardson Rocks Nevada

The season-opening Nevada Forum came and went... And one candidate stood out from the pack. Governor Bill Richardson was able to encapsulate over a quarter-century of public service, leadership, peacemaking, and visionary wisdom into brief opening and closing statements, and answers to 3 three questions -- and, what's more, he did it with integrity, humor, and dialogue brimming with intelligence, wisdom, and pragmatism.

If the American people can't watch - and truly listen - to this man and not come away thinking that Bill Richardson is one of the most qualified, best suited candidates for the office of President of the United States that this country has ever seen, then the folks must be wearing earplugs and be looking through the wrong lenses. Governor Richardson's performance in the Nevada Forum was the first of many such events that will continually serve to illuminate this truth to the voters.

For while the other candidates can merely talk about their ideas, Bill Richardson has actually accompanied his ideas with action - and that action has achieved extraordinary results.

The other candidates are talkers - Richardson is a proven leader of achievement, wisdom, and vision.

...and, oh yeah, he's Batman.*


Watch Governor Richardson's performance at the Nevada Forum:

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmAJsKPNt30

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92DVIfuA7dM

C-SPAN: http://www.cspan.org/watch/cspan_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2



*Courtesy of Jon Stewart's assessment of Governor Richardson.

From the New Hampshire Union Leader...

Richardson's party: Is anyone left to back him?

NEW MEXICO Gov. Bill Richardson stopped by last week during his two-day swing through New Hampshire. Among the Democrats vying for their party's Presidential nomination, he stood out as someone not very interested in playing to the far left, or to anyone else's expectations.
With Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards tacking hard left, and Sen. Hillary Clinton trying to sound moderate while still holding on to the liberal base, Richardson was quick to note that he is a different kind of Democrat.
For one, he's all for tax cuts. "I'd have middle-class tax cuts. I'd cut capital gains," he said, adding that he might have to repeal tax cuts that went to wealthier Americans to pay for more middle-class cuts, but it would be a last resort. He believes that low taxes stimulate business investment and job creation.
"The Democratic Party, our first solution is to tax, but I'm not of that school," he said.
He's also pro-Second Amendment (he was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in last year's race for governor), for a stronger, larger military, against gay marriage, and in favor of letting states experiment on policy rather than forcing them to accept Washington's dictates.
On Iraq, he supports withdrawal, provided the United States can bring together the warring ethnic and religious groups and create some sort of political agreement first.
Richardson is not a candidate polished and shined by some D.C.-area spin machine. He's a Western governor who talks convincingly like a Washington outsider despite his years in the capital. Plus, he has some interesting ideas. The question is whether in the current political climate any Democrats will be willing to hear them.

Q & A with Bill Richardson

From the Las Vegas Sun:


Q+A: Bill Richardson

Candidate for '08 stays true to Western roots

By Michael J. Mishak
Las Vegas Sun

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson swung through Nevada over the weekend for the first time since declaring his intentions to run for president.
One of eight Democrats in a diverse field, he was the first to hire staff in the state and, as an underdog, he wants to capitalize on a natural edge he may have because he is the sole Westerner in the race.
In a 30-minute interview with the Sun, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations showed himself to be one part diplomat, one part cowboy - and maybe one part colorful linguist, though that part was mostly off the record.
"The environment, nuclear waste, alternative energy, property rights and water. I'm pro-gun. I understand Western values. Rugged individualism is important. The West, for example, is not waiting on Washington to act on clean energy. In New Mexico 10 percent of our electricity has to be renewable, and we've got plans to double that."

Sun: Some say the Nevada caucus is your only chance to swing into the top tier of presidential candidates, and if you lose here you're out of the race. What do you say?

Richardson: I know I'm an underdog, but I've only been in the race for five days. I agree that I have to have a strong showing here. Do I have to win? I'm not sure. Yes, I'm concentrating on Nevada right now, but I'm not a regional candidate. I'm using the West as my base because I'm a Westerner. I believe the American people are ready for candidates with solutions. They're ready for candidates who will inspire them. They have shown that they're ready to accept a woman for president, an African American for president - and hopefully a Hispanic for president.

Sun: For someone who's spent the better part of his career in Washington, you've played the Western card pretty hard.

Richardson: I've always been connected to the West. I was in Congress for 15 years and I came home to New Mexico every weekend. I served my country. Last time I checked, being a congressman, you have to be in Washington. I have a horse. I'm a hunter. What else can I say?

Sun: What's your favorite table game?

Richardson: As secretary of Energy I used to go to Las Vegas to deal with the Nevada Test Site, but I'm not a gambler. I go to Vegas for major championship fights, restaurants and concerts. George Strait, Rod Stewart, the Eagles. The only gambling I did was to put a few bucks into some Ferris wheel thing.

Sun: Any chance of your old boss, President Clinton, stumping for you on the campaign trail?

Richardson: No. I think there's zero chance of that. We have a good relationship and I feel very loyal to him. But this is family now. I don't expect him to support me and that's fine.

Richardson makes first campaign stop

Governor Richardson campaigns in Nevada!

From the Reno Gazette-Journal:

Acknowledging the importance of Nevada's role in the 2008 presidential election, New Mexico governor and Democratic hopeful Bill Richardson made Reno his first official campaign stop Saturday since announcing he was creating an exploratory committee.
"I want to be the first candidate for president who has accepted invitations to Nevada's two debates; the first one (Feb. 21) in Carson City and the health care forum in Las Vegas" on March 24, Richardson told a crowd of about 50 supporters at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Richardson, who announced his exploratory committee a week ago, is planning a grass-roots campaign and expects to visit all of Nevada's 17 counties.
"I'm not after big-name endorsements, just votes," Richardson said.

To read the article in its entirety: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/NEWS/701280373

From the AP and Yahoo News:

Richardson accepts Nevada forum invites

RENO, Nev. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sought to separate himself from a crowded Democratic presidential field as he campaigned Saturday in Nevada.

Richardson became the first Democrat to accept an invitation to appear in two candidate forums in the state — Feb. 21 in Carson City and March 24 in Las Vegas. He also pledged to campaign in all 17 Nevada counties.

"I know I'm the underdog, but I'm going to outwork the other candidates," Richardson told more than 50 supporters who greeted him at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
"Nevada is going to be a critically important state because of its early caucus. I'm going to campaign very hard, door to door. I'm after voters, not big endorsements," he added.

Richardson pointed out that he's the only Democratic candidate who hails from the West.
"I'm a fellow Westerner," he said. "The main issues today require someone with the background and heart, and I believe I have the best qualifications."
Richardson said he's proud of his heritage but is not running as a Hispanic in a state that is nearly 23 percent Hispanic.
"I think it's a growing population, and I'll fight for every vote," he said.

To read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail_1